Attachment for musical instruments



ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,629

F.S.HABEGER ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 14. 1926 J! 10 fi /A 16 Z i M ///'/A;

Patented Feb. 21, 1928 FRED S. HABEGER, F. YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed July 14,

This invention relates to stringed musical instruments and comprehends the provision of a mute movably mounted beneath the bridge of the instrument, and arranged to be conveniently moved into andout of engagement with said bridge whereby the variation of the tone is instantly at the players command.

The invention is in the nature of an attachment for the instrument, and is designed to be quickly and conveniently associated with fretted instruments of different character.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through the instrument showing the invention associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the instrument showing the invention in elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the attachment.

Figure 1 is an end elevation.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the bracket for associating the attachment with the instrument.

Referring to the drawing in detail A indicates generally a fretted instrument, wherein represents the bridge and 11 the strings. The particular instrument herein illustrated is a banjo, 12 representing the wooden strip arranged within the body of the instrument as shown.

The attachment forming the subject matter of the present invention includes an inverted U-shaped bracket 13 which is adapted to straddle the strip 12, the bracket having openings 14 for the reception of a suitable fastening element for holding the bracket fixed in any given position upon the strip 12. The bracket is further provided with a loop or hearing 15 arranged at one side'of the bracket and adapted to receive the pivoted bolt 16 upon which the frame 17 is mounted. This frame is of substantially U-shaped formation, but is made in sections, the corresponding lower extremities 18 of which 1926. Serial No. 122,426.

are mounted upon the pivoted bolt 16, and

held fixed relatively thereto by knurled nuts roller 20 which when the attachment is associated with the instrument, is arranged beneath the bridge 10 and adapted to be moved intoahdout' of engagement therewith to varythe toneof the instrument.

While any suitable means may be employed for controlling the movements of the frame 17 to properly position the roller 20 with relation to the bridge 10, depending upon the desired tone of the instrument, I preferably make use of an operating rod 21 which is secured to a yoke 22 in any suitable manner, the latter being pivotally associated with the frame 17. The rod 21 is slightly bent to arrange the rod in close proximity to the strip 12 of the instrument, the rod sliding through an opening in the body of the instrument as clearly shown in Figure 1, and supports a stop collar 23 arranged to engage the body of the instrument to limit the sliding movement of the rod in one direction. The exposed end of the rod is provided with a knob or the like 2& disposed within convenient reach of the player, who takes hold of the knob 24: to slide the rod 21 in either direction as the occasion may require. In this way the variation of the tones of the instrument is instantly at the players command, as the adjustment of the mute can be quickly accomplished without any interruption in the play. Consequently loud snappy tones, or soft sweet tones may be provided for, it being manifest that when the rod 21 is moved inwardly, the frame 17 is rocked upon its pivot to move the roller 20 away from the bridge 10. Conversely when the rod is moved outwardly the roller 20 is brought into engagement with the bridge directly beneath the latter, thereby moving the latter slightly to tension the strings 11 of the instrument.

lVhile it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood, that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

hat is claimed is:

1. A mute attachment for stringed musical ally from the bracket, I a U-shaped frame pivoted on said bearing, a roller journaled in said frame, a rod connected with the frame and slidable through an opening in the body of the instrument, whereby said roller can be shifted into and out ofengagement with the diaphragm of the instrument beneath the bridge thereof, andv a stop collar carried by said rod and adapted to engage the body of the instrument tojlimit the movement of the rod in one direction.-

2. A. mute attachment for stringed musical instruments having a diaphragm and. a

bridge comprising a bracket designed to straddle the brace bar of the instrument, a

U-shaped frame supported on said bracket and arranged above the frame of the instrument for pivotal movement, a roller journaled in said pivoted frame, a yoke pivotally supported on said U-shaped frame and arranged at a right angle thereto, arod associated With said yoke and longitudinally slidable through an opening in the body of the instrument, whereby said U- shaped frame can be actuated to move the roller into and out of engagement with the diaphragm of the, instrument beneath said bridge, and a stop collar carried by the rod and adapted to engage said body of the instrument to limit the movement of the rod in one direction 1 a In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

FRED s. HABEGER. 

